Cognition Flashcards
What was the aim in Yochelson and Samenow?
. Understand the make-up of of criminal personality
. Establish techniques that could be used to alter the personality disorders that produce crime
. Establish techniques that can be effective in preventing criminal behaviour
What was the method in Yochelson and Samenow?
Interviews over several years, not standardised,
Each pp interview number of times, part of treatment
What was the sample in Yochelson and Samenow?
255 male offenders, roughly half residence of the psychiatric warm of Y&S in America.
Judged either NGRI or incompetent to stand trial.
No control group
What was the procedure in Yochelson and Samenow?
Consisted of a Fredian based therapy, attempt to find root cause of their criminality in their past.
Then faced this, and expected to improve behaviour, by stopping lying, drug, alcohol abuse, theft if hospital replies.
What’s some additional behaviour in Yochelson and Samenow?
. Most pps dropped out, 30 completed interviews
. Only 9 generally changed as a result, by strands established at start of the programme
According to Yochelson and Samenow In the results, criminals…
Restless and irritable
Want to live exciting life, any costs
Lack empathy
Poor at responsible decision making
Y&S described the criminal personality as characterised by 52 thinking errors, what were the 3 categories they fell into?
Criminal thinking patterns: characterised by a simultaneous fear and need for power and control.
Automatic thinking errors: including a lack of empathy, failure to accept obligation+ secretive communication style
Crime related thinking errors: fantasise about criminal acts
What’s the conclusion from Yochelson and Samenow?
50 thinking errors distinguished in criminals.
Criminals in control, their crime a result of choices in the past.
What was the aim in Kohlberg?
Find evidence in support of a progression through stages of moral development.
What was the method used in Kohlberg?
Longitudinal, uses interviews with stimulus materials (moral dilemmas) collecting data
What was the sample in Kohlberg?
58 boys from Chicago, working and middle class Ages 7,10,13 and 16
What was the procedure in Kohlberg?
Each had a 2 hour interview, 10 dilemmas they had to solve,
Some followed up at 3 year intervals, until 30-36
Children from UK, Mexico, Taiwan, USA, Yucatan
What were the results in Kohlberg?
Younger boys stage 1+2
Older boys 3+4
Gives support for development of morality in stages.
No support for stage 6, later decided may be no 6
What were the conclusions in Kohlberg?
Support across cultures for stage theory of M D.
Methodology heavily criticised, hypothetical dilemmas.
